Year 4 enjoyed working with their parents on designing a superhero character. The ideas and designs will be used for writing advertisements for a superhero toy. Open afternoon was a great opportunity for children to share their learning with their parents.

Using ‘Scratch,’ we have been creating a prototype of a computer controlled toy with at least one input and output. The images below shows Niall and Seb’s Scratch based toy. When the input is pressed (blue button circle), the toy moves its arms into different positions.

As mathematician we know the importance of pattern spotting. We have used our maths detective skills to investigate patterns in adding and subtracting 4 consecutive numbers (numbers that follow on from each other E.g. 1, 2, 3 and 4.)

What did we notice?

Molly and Seb noticed that when they added the two middlenumbers in +++ and then double the result they got the answer. For example: 2+ 3+ 4+ 5 = 14
Inari noticed that with ++- if you double the first number in the calculation this gives the answer to the whole calculation. For example: 1+2+3-4 = 2

Samuel noticed that everytime he did +– he got an answer of -4.

Alex noticed –+ the answer is 0.

Andria said that all the consecutive numbers answers should be even. If they are odd they are wrong.

Can you be a mathematics detective too? Why not try investigating adding and subtracting consecutive numbers at home and looking for patterns. You never know, you might find a pattern that someone has never seen before.